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Merseyside man completes Sahara ultra marathon for charity

18th May 2016

A man from Merseyside has completed a six-day long marathon across the Sahara Desert raising almost £8,000 for a childhood cancer charity.

Lee Quinn, a manager at Merseyside-based law firm Your Legal Friend, took on the toughest footrace on earth – the Marathon des Sables. He covered 156 miles in six days in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, finishing in 326th place out of 1,200 participants.

With an original goal of raising £5,000, Lee has smashed his target by almost £3,000 with his JustGiving page still available for people to donate through until July 2016.

The funds have been raised for Neuroblastoma UK, a charity working with children diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The organisation will receive every penny as Lee funded his own travel, food and the cost of participating in the race himself.

During the race, he needed to consume twelve litres of water and eat 2000 calories per day.

To be fit enough for the challenge Lee, from West Kirby, trained for over 16 months with a combination of gym sessions and outdoor workouts at various times of the day. He also undertook training at Liverpool John Moores University.

Further preparation included mountain training and the incorporation of early morning high-temperature conditioning three times a week to acclimatise him to the 50-degree centigrade heat that he would face.

Lee Quinn, a manager in the road accident division at Your Legal Friend, said: “It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. It was extremely challenging, especially competing in such high temperatures. Many people had to drop out due to the intense environment.

“It was brutal on my body but it was well worth it. I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me and donated. The money will make a huge difference to the children and families that Neuroblastoma UK care for.”

As for his next challenge, Lee is looking to 2018 as a potential return to fundraising, adding: “It’s been a fantastic test to overcome but I’m going to take a break.

“My wife, family and friends and colleagues at Your Legal Friend have been very supportive but I think I’ll look for a new challenge in two years’ time. I’ve got a few ideas, perhaps something in the mountains or in the jungle, you’ll have to watch this space.”

Lee's JustGiving page can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LeeQuinn03

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